Entergy customers in Algiers facing sizeable rate hike

On Thursday Entergy Louisiana, a subsidiary of the New Orleans utility company filed a proposal with the city council to almost double the current rate for customers in Algiers.

If approved, the proposed rate hike would increase the average customers monthly power bill by about $31 and would be phased in over a three year period.

Entergy said it would be the first increase for residents of Algiers in twelve years. A spokesperson with the company said the additional money would be used for past, and future capital improvement projects to the aging infrastructure and bank millions of dollars for future storm repairs.

While not a motivator for the increase, Entergy said, customers on the Westbank would be paying closer to what their neighbors on the Eastbank are already paying as customers of Entergy New Orleans. Right now, customers in Algiers pay some of the lowest energy bills in the region, according to an Entergy official.

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